5 Tips to Reduce the Chances of a Boiler Breakdown

With the cost of fuel increasing and the weather being ever-more unpredictable, it is important that you have access to heating within your home at any time of day and any time of year. In order to do this, you need a reliable boiler. So what can you do to make sure you have the best chance of reducing your risk of a breakdown and keeping your house warm and cosy?

Keep an Eye on Your Heating

If it’s cold outside, it is important that you do not keep your heating switched off. This may damage your heating system by making it work hard when you switch it on. If you check your heating regularly to make sure that your heating system is working properly, then this makes the chances of your boiler freezing up or breaking down less likely. In the long term, this will save you money on repairs or replacement of your boiler.

Check Your Boiler Instructions

You may think that it’s a waste of time reading instructions, especially if you have read them in the past or have some knowledge of boilers. However, it is certainly worth looking at your manual and keeping it close by just in case you do have problems with your boiler that you can fix yourself. If you do not have a boiler manual, then it may be possible for you to get one from your manufacturer, so do so at your earliest convenience.

Try the Obvious First

It may sound a little obvious, but if for any reason your boiler doesn’t seem to be working, it is worth checking if it is switched off or if you are no longer receiving a gas or electricity supply. If your boiler has a pilot light (not all models do, so do not worry if you are unable to find one), then check that it is lit. If your pilot light is out, it may be the cause of your problems and you may be able to reset or relight the pilot light manually using the instructions in your boiler manual.

Try Bleeding Your Radiators

In order to find out whether or not you need to bleed your radiators, run a hand over them while they are warm and you may be able to feel cold patches. If this is the case, then bleeding the radiators may release any trapped air inside them which is causing them to not heat up effectively, therefore not heating your home sufficiently. There are many handy guides online about how to bleed your radiators; however, if this does not work, then you may need to seek the help of a professional engineer.

Have You Checked Your Pressure?

Sometimes a boiler will stop working due to a drop in pressure. If your boiler is not doing its job anymore, then it may be the case that the pressure has dropped due to leaks in your radiators or pipes. If you are unsure of what has caused this problem, then it may be worthwhile to seek the help of a specialist engineer whom you can call out at a time that is convenient for you. Companies such as bbsplumbandheat.com can come to your home and check your boiler to ensure that it is working correctly. They are able to fix a fault and provide you with information about how to keep your boiler working successfully throughout the winter and summer.